fbpx

Ayurveda Courses and Retreats

Science of Life, Well-being, and Perfect Health

What is Ayurveda?

SCIENCE OF HEALING

Ayurveda is a sister science to the knowledge of yoga.  They both go hand in hand with each other.  Most of us recognize that our health cannot be separated from what we think, say, do or eat. We are born with certain specific physical and mental conditions and we need to understand these to effectively progress in our life and relate to people and our environment. How do we make the best of our life?

Natural healing system

Ayurveda, the “science of life,” is the traditional medicine of India. It is probably the oldest health care system in the world, with roots going back over 5,000 years into the Vedic era. It is called the “Mother of All Healing.” Ayurveda is one of the most comprehensive healing systems in the world, dealing integrally with body, mind and spirit.

Ayurveda is allied with the profound yogic view of life and consciousness. Yogis need to understand Ayurveda to keep themselves healthy on the path of Sadhana. Ayurvedic practitioners use integrally yogic methods to achieve healing of body/mind/spirit.  Understanding how the mind works is key to our progress.

Ayurveda provides us with a system for understanding the energies and qualities that are set in motion by our daily living practices, so we can counteract or prevent the imbalances that cause disease. The principles can be applied in our daily life routine, according to our unique constitution and adapting to changing conditions such as time of the day, season, age and culture.

Ayurveda affords much extraordinary knowledge and many opportunities to inform our own lifestyle choices and enhance of our skills adding greater value to our lives.

Gaining popularity in the West

Ayurveda is becoming better known in the West and its influence is growing rapidly. Acharya David Frawley predicts that those who learn Ayurveda today will be pioneers in this holistic health movement that will continue to grow significantly in the future.  Nearby to the ashram, in Nevada City is the California College of Ayurveda which works closely with us.

Influence on historical systems of medicine

Ayurveda has had a strong influence throughout history on many systems of medicine, from the ancient Greeks in the West to the Chinese in the East. Ayurvedic herbs and formulas appear in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and an Ayurvedic form of acupuncture also exists.

Ayurveda is the basis of Tibetan medicine, which brought in Ayurveda along with Indian Buddhism. Tibetan medicine consists of predominantly Ayurveda with a secondary influence of TCM. Forms of Ayurveda exist in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Burma, and to some extent in Thailand.  Lean more about Ayurveda in our teachings section.

Ayurveda Courses

Ayurveda Courses at the Sivananda Yoga Farm help you find your True Nature as Spirit and help you to control the mind and lead a happy and healthy life with more prana or life force.

Ayurveda is the science of life, and goes deeper into prescribing life regimens, food and diet, herbs, and an understanding of our specific mental and physical propensities, or constitution. By bringing into balance the 5 elements in the body and mind we regain health.

Health is Wealth

Health is a law of nature. It is our natural birthright. Ayurveda and Yoga, the ancient sciences of medicine and right living, declare the origin of disease comes from three flaws:

 – Forgetting our True Nature as Spirit
– The misuse of intellect
– Excessive movement of the mind

Karuna Devi teaching asana yoga poses class

Ayurvedic Massage Rejuvenation Retreat

The ashram is the ideal place to come relax, rejuvenate and detoxify from your daily life.   The Ayurveda Massage weekends provides an opportunity to receive guidance and nurturing from specialists trained in the ancient healing science of Ayurveda in the form of body treatments, consultations and daily workshops.

Please check below for upcoming dates.  After booking please call in advance to book your Ayurvedic body treatment and consultation as there are a limited number of appointments available. Participants will practice Yoga poses (asanas), Pranayama (breathing) and meditation twice daily and attend daily workshops on Ayurveda and health.  Additionally there will be practice of Bhakti Yoga techniques to open the heart and turn emotions into devotion.

 

Ayurvedic Consultation

Discover your own personal constitution and learn the basic tools to keep your body, mind and spirit in balance through diet, lifestyle and other tools for healthy living. We’ll determine what kinds of activities and changes in your lifestyle can best help you restore balance.

The Ayurvedic Consultation includes a detailed history intake, pulse and tongue analysis, diet and lifestyle evaluation. Please call to book your Ayurvedic consultation and complete your Intake Forms before your scheduled appointment time.

During Ayurveda Courses guests can get a consultation done with a professional
During Ayurveda courses treatments are available to help you relax

Ayurvedic Body Treatments

A beautifully relaxing and luxurious full body treatment. Includes Abhyanga, a herbal oil massage; followed by Shirodhara, a soothing, steady stream of herbal oil poured on to the forehead directly over the third eye, calming and purifying the mind.

Last comes Swedhana, a full-body herbal steam treatment, which helps the oil and herbs penetrate the body, nourishing the skin and removing toxins.

Please call in advance to book your Ayurvedic body treatment and consultation as there are a limited number of appointments available.  The Consultations and Body Treatments have an additional cost on top of what is being charged for Tuition and Accommodations.  Please see our full Well-being Treatment Menu for descriptions and prices.

Upcoming Dates

Dates Program Name Price see more... Register
April 4 - 7, 2024 Ayurvedic Massage Rejuvenation Retreat $265.00
April 9 - 14, 2024 Ayurvedic Detoxification Rejuvenation Retreat $1,000.00
May 9 - 12, 2024 Ayurvedic Massage Rejuvenation Retreat $265.00
May 17 - 19, 2024 Healing the Emotional Body with Yoga & Ayurveda: Rasa Bhava $150.00
June 13 - 16, 2024 Ayurvedic Massage Rejuvenation Retreat $265.00
July 23 - 28, 2024 Seasonal Cleanse and Rejuvenation Retreat $900.00
July 25 - 28, 2024 Ayurvedic Massage Rejuvenation Retreat $265.00
August 15 - 18, 2024 Ayurvedic Massage Rejuvenation Retreat $265.00
September 12 - 15, 2024 Ayurvedic Massage Rejuvenation Retreat $265.00
September 20 - 28, 2024 Pancha Karma Detoxification Therapy $4,700.00
October 10 - 13, 2024 Ayurvedic Massage Rejuvenation Retreat $265.00
November 7 - 10, 2024 Ayurvedic Massage Rejuvenation Retreat $265.00
December 12 - 15, 2024 Ayurvedic Massage Rejuvenation Retreat $265.00

Related Courses

We also have many related courses.  Monthly we have Health Wellness Camps which focus on specific health related topics such as Diabetes, Chronic Pain, and Cancer.  We also have regular Stress Relief and Relaxation Courses which focuses on the yogic techniques to relax, recharge and come back to our true nature as happiness and peace.

You can also read about our 800-hour Professional Sivananda Yoga Health Educator Training in which over a 2 year period you are trained in the therapeutic application of the Five Points of Yoga and the Four Paths of Yoga.

Ayurveda Teachers

Please check above on each specific retreat to see who will be leading the retreat you are interested in attending or click on the name of the teacher below to see a list of their upcoming retreats.

Acharya Shunya

The first female lineage-holder of her distinguished Vedic tradition, Acharya Shunya is an internationally renowned scholar, teacher, author, speaker and scholar of nondual wisdom (Advaita) from India, and a classically-trained master of Yoga and Ayurveda. She is the Founder of The Awakened Self Foundation and the nonprofit Vedika…

Jennifer Andrews (Ambika)

Ambika (Jennifer Andrews) specializes in the ancient vedic healing sciences of Ayurveda and Yoga. She is the owner and founder of Ambikas Ayurveda. Ambika has a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Nevada, Reno, Masters of Education degree from The University of Cincinnati, and certificates in…

Bharata Surya

Bharata Surya (Javier Lopez) is a Sivananda Yoga Teacher and a certified Ayurveda Practitioner, Counselor, Pancha Karma specialist and Marma therapist trained in the US and India. For the last 15 years he has led private practices and set up Ayurvedic clinics in different parts of the US…

Gita Devi

Gita Devi is a Clinical Ayurvedic and Pancha Karma Specialist. She began her Ayurvedic studies in Kerala, India in 2001 and is also a Graduate of the California College of Ayurveda. Gita Devi has completed both the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course and the Advanced Yoga Teacher Training.…

Mary Thompson (Mahavidya)

Mary Thompson, C.A.S., P.K.S., (Ayurvedacharya), is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda and senior teacher with certifications as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Pancha Karma Specialist. Mary is a graduate of the first graduating class of the College in 1997. In 2008 she received the Charaka…

Alexandra Epple

Alexandra Epple CAS, CMT is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, seasoned yoga instructor and long time bodyworker. Her approach to health is super practical and down to earth. She graduated from the California College of Ayurveda in 2011 and has spent months at a time in Thailand and India, for further…

Durga Leela

Durga Leela is founder of Yoga of Recovery, a comprehensive program integrating Ayurveda and Yoga with recovery tools for a holistic mind, body and spirit approach for those affected by addiction and self-destructive behaviors. Yoga of Recovery is currently offered as workshops, retreats and certificate courses. Durga holds…

Arun Deva, AP, AYT, C-IAYT, E-RYT500

Arun Deva, AP, AYT, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, is a certified senior āyurvedic practitioner, āyurvedic yoga therapist, IAYT certified yoga therapist, and  YA certified teacher of vinyāsa krama yoga in the Kriśnamacārya tradition (E-RYT500) He has had the privilege of serving both the National and State Āyurvedic Associations Boards. He chaired…

Manas Kshirsagar

Manas Kshirsagar is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner. He comes from a Rig Vedic Bramhin tradition with an extensive Ayurvedic background. He graduated from Aloha Ayurveda Academy and completed his BS in Health and Physiology from Maharishi University of Management. He is an acclaimed Wellness Consultant, and expected to…